Hurricanes Poua calls out Government again in Haka. Video / Sky Sport
By RNZ and NZ Herald
The Hurricanes Poua have again called out the Government with their haka, defying orders of the team’s chief executive not to take a political stance and now drawing the ire of Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.
The side caused a massive controversy thisweek after their pre-match haka against Manawa made reference to a “redneck government”.
However, before kick-off in this afternoon’s 36-29 win over Matatū in Wellington, Poua performed another alternative haka with references to the Government and Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Peters took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his displeasure.
“The Hurricanes may well lose support and viewers because the CEO has a bunch of naive players damaging the brand by attempting to wade into partisan political activism without any concept of reality,” he posted.
“They are trying to insult the government but are instead now just slapping the Hurricane brand and CEO in the face. Go woke go broke.”
The Hurricanes may well lose support and viewers because the CEO has a bunch of naive players damaging the brand by attempting to wade into partisan political activism without any concept of reality. They are trying to insult the government but are instead now just slapping the… pic.twitter.com/7VcXkKA18Z
Poua perform a haka in Wellington last year, but their latest ones referencing the Government are causing controversy. Photo / Marty Melville / www.photosport.nz
Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick also commented online about the haka, defending the players’ right to expression: “Looking forward to seeing all of the ardent advocates for freedom of speech supporting these wāhine.”
Poua again referenced Toitū Te Tiriti, a political movement ignited by coalition Government policies and rhetoric on Māori issues.
Chiefs Manawa players Ruby Tui and Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu earlier today stood out of their own pre-match haka against the Blues Women in what some interpreted as support for the Poua players.
So Ruby Tui and Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu stand out of their haka today.
Would have to think this was as a show of solidarity with the Hurricanes Poua.
Poua haka leader Leilani Perese doubled down on last week’s performance, hitting back at opponents and saying the Government should “whakangarongaro” or disappear.
Meanwhile, Chiefs Manawa are two from two to start their Super Rugby Aupiki campaign after holding off the Blues women 17-10 this afternoon.
The big names struck early for the visitors, Black Ferns stars Grace Steinmetz and Ruby Tui scoring to give Manawa a 12-0 lead at Bell Park.
The Blues pulled them back early in the second with two tries of their own through Tafito Lafaele and Mel Puckett to reduce the margin to two points.
However, just five minutes in Grace Kukutai pounced on a Blues mistake, to stretch it back to 17-10, with the Blues unable to convert their late chances.
Following their first performance of the haka last week, Hurricanes chief executive Lee said he was disappointed by the action and there was no consultation with him by the players.
“The Hurricanes shouldn’t be making any political statement. If they do it needs to be agreed across the organisation because we have got players and staff who are not comfortable with what is being said.
“There are obviously players and staff who agree with it but that is missing the point ... we were blindsided,” said Lee.
“Us making a political statement is inappropriate – whether they’re saying ‘the government is great’ or ‘the government is not great’, that’s not our role.”
Lee said he didn’t expect any disciplinary action to be taken against the players but he is keen to understand who was behind the decision to go ahead with the altered haka.
Sports and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop dismissed claims that the Government was “redneck”.
Bishop said he disagreed with the haka’s message but said the Poua were entitled to their view.
The Hutt South MP said he will continue supporting the Hurricanes.
Peters also wrote about the first haka at the time: “Perhaps if they focused more on tackling and catching the ball instead of expending all their energy performing a haka trying too hard to attack the government they may not have been thrashed so badly. I don’t see the world number one Black Ferns doing that.”
Regulation Minister David Seymour said: “I’m actually a Hurricanes fan because my dad’s family is from the Manawatū and I grew up supporting Christian Cullen so I’m deeply saddened at this turn of events.
“I’m especially concerned that the Hurricanes Poua finished bottom of the table last season, they’re bottom of the table so far this season, and I’m just really worried that they’ve spent too much time on their haka and their politics and not enough time practising their moves.”
